Best programs to become a model maker
You do not need a college degree to become a model maker. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 18 schools trains model makers, metal and plastic, graduating 415 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $63,340 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About model makers, metal and plastic
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.
Best programs to study to become a model maker
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 48.0506 | 415 | 100.0% | 18 | $36,566 | $9,429 |
Top 18 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What model makers, metal and plastic earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $92,960 | 260 | 0.85× | 6 | 211 |
| Indianalimited | $62,620 | 50 | 0.97× | 1 | 109 |
| Pennsylvanialimited | $52,990 | 40 | 0.38× | 1 | 24 |
| Floridalimited | $79,930 | 50 | 0.31× | 1 | 3 |
| Ohiolimited | $60,880 | 60 | 0.66× | 1 | 2 |
| Michiganlimited | $60,540 | 710 | 9.64× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Study blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine material dimensions, required equipment, and operations sequences.
- Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
- Program computer numerical control (CNC) machines to fabricate model parts.
- Inspect and test products to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit testers.
- Cut, shape, and form metal parts, using lathes, power saws, snips, power brakes and shears, files, and mallets.
- Rework or alter component model or parts as required to ensure that products meet standards.
- Drill, countersink, and ream holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.
- Grind, file, and sand parts to finished dimensions.
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Listening2.8
- Speaking2.6
- Mathematics2.6
- Active Learning2.5
- Writing2.4
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.3
- Mathematics4.0
- Production and Processing3.9
- Design3.9
- Engineering and Technology3.8
- Computers and Electronics2.9
Abilities
- Near Vision4.0
- Visualization3.8
- Finger Dexterity3.6
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.6
- Control Precision3.6
- Manual Dexterity3.6
Core activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.4
- Controlling Machines and Processes4.1
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.9
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.9
- Getting Information3.8
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.8
How to get in
How to become a model maker
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Model Makers, Metal and Plastic1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 48.0506Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a model maker?+
You do not need a college degree to become a model maker. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a model maker?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 415 people a year.
How much do model makers, metal and plastic earn?+
The median is $63,340 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $39,760 at the 10th percentile to $99,010 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for model makers, metal and plastic growing?+
BLS projects a -18.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 300 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
18 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do model makers, metal and plastic work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Model Maker, Model Builder, Molding Technician (Molding Tech), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 51-4061.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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